The Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, briefed the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) yesterday on the regional organization's activities to counter terrorism and highlighted the importance of a global and integrated response.

"The more closely we work together, the better our chances to identify terrorist trends and devise effective countermeasures," Ambassador de Brichambaut told the Security Council Committee.

He said Governments, the United Nations and regional organizations such as the OSCE need to coordinate their efforts in order to prevent and combat terrorism, an evolving and complex threat. He further stressed that OSCE anti-terrorism activities are carried out in close co-operation with CTED, the Counter Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) and other UN structures and international bodies.

With 56 participating States in Europe, Central Asia and North America, the OSCE is the largest regional security organization in the world. It addresses the threat posed by terrorism in a number of ways and in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, de Brichambaut said.

Specific OSCE activities aimed at addressing the requirements of resolutions 1373 and 1624 include, for example , facilitating the implementation of international legal instruments related to terrorism, helping participating States curb the financing of terrorism, assisting in strengthening border management and preventing the movement of terrorists, and promoting the protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

The approach is comprehensive and inclusive, de Brichambaut said. Besides participating States, partners in the fight against terrorism include CTED, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, other regional and international organizations, civil society and the private sector.

Referring to the tenth anniversary of resolution 1373 (2001), Ambassador de Brichambaut told the CTC members that the Bucharest Plan of Action, adopted by OSCE participating States in 2001, underscores their determination "to contribute to the fulfillment of international obligations" as enshrined in resolution 1373. Since then, the OSCE has made progress in enhancing cooperation among participating States. "The OSCE also serves as a platform for pioneering region-specific initiatives that seek to implement global counter-terrorism objectives," de Brichambaut said.